Dancing Mice - Quiz Culture
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 12 / 4 / 2015

Label:
Squeak Audio
Format: CD
intro
Understated yet poetic and compelling sixth album from Edinburgh-based band, Dancing Mice
Dancing Mice, who are stylish Scotsmen from Edinburgh, have crafted with 'Quiz Culture' an album which combines melody with poetic lyrics. It has been set to music with great knowledge of, and insight into, the elegance of what has become known as quintessential British eccentricity. Though 'Red Star' may be a strumming guitar protest against just that, 'Heaven and Hell' then dissolves any doubts that we could have had there. Religious undertones come to the rescue here which, however, make the music sounds even greater still. Seemingly odd patterns slowly start to make sense now, such as on the excellent 'North Star' for example. The intrinsic beauty and the poetry, which is hidden beneath a tarnish of soft-toned post new wave, come to full effect on 'Hide and Seek' - another highlight on 'Quiz Culture', an album with no lowpoints. On 'Twinkle' it sounds as if monks in retreat were chanting after congregation when the church organ began to reverberate in an eerie fashion. Subdued at the start, 'Quiz Culture' comes to a sparkling close on 'Helen and Paris', a lovely Valentine banjo tune, with a subtle brass arrangement Don't hesitate to play 'Quiz Culture' very loud. The arrangements are in perfect balance. It will upset the neighbours. Pleasantly. It is an album which breathes empathy and fully deserves your sympathy.
Track Listing:-
1 Eleanor2 The Backroom Boys
3 Broken Road
4 Red Star
5 Heaven and Hell
6 North Star
7 Marine Lullaby
8 Love Still Burns
9 Just Close Friends
10 Hide and Seek
11 Twinkle
12 Helen and Paris
Band Links:-
https://twitter.com/dancingmicebandhttps://www.facebook.com/dancingmiceUK
digital downloads
soundcloud
most viewed articles
current edition
Sarah Cracknell - InterviewDouglas MacIntyre - Interview
Jann Klose - Sugar My
Jimmy Webb - (With support from Ashley Campbell and Thor Jenson), Cadogan Hall, London. 27/5/2022
Jarvis Cocker - Good Pop Bad Pop - An Exhibition of Objects and Keepsakes of Jarvis Cocker
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Loop - Interview
Rolling Stones - Anfield, Liverpool, 9/6/2022
Tom Newman - Interview
Simply Red - La Marina, Valencia, Spain, 7/6/2022
most viewed reviews
current edition
Def Leppard - Diamond Star HalosLucky Ones - Slow Dance, Square Dance, Barn Dance
Various - Heroes & Villains – The Sound Of Los Angeles 1965-1968,
Dave Stewart - Ebony McQueen
Gabi Garbutt and the Illuminations - Cockerel
Emile Sande - Let's Say For Instance
Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That...
Soup Review - Go and See
Girls At Our Best! - Pleasure
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me: 20th Anniversary Edition
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart